Separator.



N. G. WESTERPIELD.

SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1912.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

JNVENTfJ/f M5 main air chamlaer to the material UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEWTON C. WESTERFIELD, OF OREGON CITY, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING 6a EQUIPPING C 0., A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 29, 1912. Serial No. 694,029.

Patented Dec.9, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWTON O. Wnsrnn- From), a citizen of the United States, residing at Oregon City, in the county of Clackamas and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in separators, and has for its object to provide a. device which will separate particles of materials differing in specific gravity.

A further object is to provide a device which will take a quantity of dry materials and separate the constituent elements'thereof according to the specific gravity of each.

The device is especially designed for. re-

moving gold and other minerals from dry sand or gravel; and it may also be employed in the separation of grains of one kind from another, or of grain of inferior quality, and refuse from the better grade.

These and other objects are accomplished by the mechanism illustrated in'the accompanying drawing, in which-- ,Figure' 1 is a-lcngitudinal sectional viewof the complete apparatus. Fig.2 represents agage to indicate the amount of air admitted to the'main air chamber. Fig. 3is a detail of the conduits leading from the to be sepa rated, with'means "forcontrolling-the flow therein. Fig. 4 is a detail of a receptacle cut-ofi'.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 represents the frame of the separator, having upon the upper edges of its side members the bearings 2 in which are mounted the'sw-inging hangers 3, supporting on their lower ends, in suitable bearings 4, the shaker 5, which is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally. in the main frame 1, upon the upper edge 72 of the air chamber.

Arrahgedtransversely in the shaker is a floor 23 positiond near ips vertical center, the forward end being fiXKBIbGVBJlhG center, while the rear end is below, to faeilitate.

the rearward'movement of material falling thereon from 'the hopper 48, through the A shaker frame opening 56. In this floor is provided a series of openings 6, in each of which is arranged a plurality of bars or tubes 6", which are designed to fill the opening, with the bars spaced apart the proper distance to receive between them the materials to be separated. The materials passing over these screens willgravitate to the rear and finally emerge into the series of traps 9 which is supported on the frame 8, at the rear of'the shaker.

Beneath the shaker, is fixed a main air chamber 55, along the upper portion of which is arranged a series of receptacles or boxes 53 in a casing having the side members 52 and the bottom 54. One receptacle is disposed transversely of the shaker beneath each set of screen bars. The upper edges are inwardly beveled at 76 and an inwardly inclined head 77 is secured at the inner side thereof to' direct the falling material into the box.-

Centrally between each two boxes is fixed a vertical partition 70, which rises to the and there divides into branches 71 each of which inclines outwardly to its respective edge of that portion of the floor 23 directly above it, to which it is, secured. A similar structure is formed at the outer side of each end box, so that a converging compartment leads from the main air chamber to each set of screens, the divided portion being separate from the portion below.

Adjacent each side of each box casing. or attached thereto, is a further partition 70, which rises toward its respective inclined portion 71, thereby forming a separate conduit at each side, which is closed at the bottom by the cut-ofl' 73 mounted on the pivot bar 80 and it opens below the screen bars at a point without the line of movement of material through the screen. Each cut-off is controlled by a quadrant lever 81, mounted on a pin 83, fixed in the casing 55 and it is secured at-theangle desired, by the set screw 82.

In eachbox casing above the box 53, are formed oppositely disposed grooves 79, to

receive the slide 31, having the handle 32, which is inserted through the slot 34, in the wall of chamber 55. This slide is adapted to receive the particles of gold which may screen through during the periodswhen the box is removed. The box being restored the slide will be withdrawn, and the scraper 30,

secured to the inner side of wall 55 by screw 29, bears upon the slide and will remove any particles of gold which adhere to it as it is withdrawn. The slide being withdrawn,

the slot will be closed by the door 84, mounted on the wall 55 and spring 85. v

In operation, the power is applied through the belt 61 to the blower 63, which is mount ed on the base 64, and the exit is controlled by the damper manipulated by the lever 65. The entrance tethe air chamber is controlled by the closure 67 hinged at 68, and which is regulated by the index 74, the scale held in place by 75 showing the amount of' air being forced .into the chamber 55. Upon the blower shaft is fixed a pulley 62 carrying a belt 60, which mitted into chamber 55 in quantity sufficient to give it the .pressure desired. The cutofis 73 will then be opened to allow a volume of air to enter the vertical conduits under sufiicient pressure to maintain the mass of the sand or gravel upon the screen in suspension. The heavy particles of free gold or other minerals contained therein, by reason of their specific gravity will settle to the bottom of the suspended mass, and then drop through the screen, the force of the air not being sufiicient to suspend them. By keeping the rearmost of each pair of closures 73 wider open than the other, the'current from that side will be stronger, and hence the air will emerge through the screen at a forwardly inclined angle, which will retard the rearward motion of the sand. Thus by. manipulating these closures the currents of air may be so varied, as to' direction and force, that they will suspend the'material for the required length of time, in any given case, to allow the heavier particles to gravitate therefrom. The cylin- Y drical form of the screen bars, permits the heavier particles contained in the mass, 'to settle over their surface and to gravitate to their vertical centers before the full force thedeast resistance to the current agamst which it descends into the of the current strikes them. It thus forms a sort of trap, within which the material is of gold, and other particles to be separatedv settle down over these cylindrical bars they will be caused to present thereto their broad surfaces, which as they continue downwardly, brings their thinner edges to the space between the bars, and therefore, offers of air, box below.

In many instances, gravel and sand contains very light flakes of gold which a strong current would carry above the mass to be sifted. I have, therefore, provided a dust catcher 86, having the legs 87 resting on the frame 1, which support it above the casing 5. The dust catcher is provided with a cover 88; and across its lower portion, just to the rear' of each set of screens, .is arranged a shelf 89, having a back-member 90.

When the current is stronger than it should.

23, thereby forminga separate air chamber,

above each screen, through which the air lssues n currents of varying strength.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A separator comprising, a frame, a shaker mounted to vibrate therein, cylindrical screen bars mounted transversely in said shaker, means of conducting a current of air upwardly through said bars under pressure, for sustaining the material in sus pension between the upper portions. of adjacent'bars, andmeans for controllingthe angle at which said current strikes the material through said bars.

2. separator comprising a frame, a shaker mounted to vibrate therein, cylindrical screen bars mounted transversely in said shaker, an air chamber arranged beneath said shaker, a chamber having converging .upper sides leading from the air chamber to said screen bars, a receptacle fixed. centrally therein, a conduit leading from each side of the receptacle and opening beneath its respective inclined wall, and a cut-off disposed from the air chamber. y y

3. A separator comprising a-. frame, a shaker mounted to vibrate therein, cylindrical screen bars mounted transversely in'said in each conduit to control the fi'ow 'of air shaker, means for conducting a,curreut of reenaaa 8 air upwardly through saifi bars under presfrom the receptacle Well toward said cover- 10 sure, for sustaining the materials in susing.

pension between the upperportions of ad- In testimony whereof I aifix my signature jacent bars, means for controlling the angle in presence of two Witnesses.

- at which the current strikes said bars, and NEWTON C. WESTERFIELD.

means for recovering the lighter particles carrie& upward by the current, comprising Witnesses:

a covering for the frame, a receptacle at the EDWIN E. HEoKBnRT, rear of said bars, and a back Wall rising O. J. Bnoons. 

